Without the PS3, Blu-ray struggles mightily for acceptance

A new report has found that without the PS3, the Blu-Ray high def disc format would be having a hard time finding friends.

Help me, PS3. You're my only hope.

Help me, PS3. You're my only hope.

Just how important is Blu-Ray to the average consumer? Not very important at all, a new study found Friday, and the PS3 may very well be what's keeping it above water.

In fact, PS3 owners, on average, are buying many more Blu-ray movies, per person, than people with dedicated Blu-ray players.

"While you might think gamers purchase fewer movie discs than others, we didn't see any significant evidence of that in our results," said ABI principle analyst Steve Wilson. "PS3 console shipments will go a long way to help bring down manufacturing costs and drive down Blu-ray player prices."

An ABI survey of 1,000 people found that over 50% have "no plans" to purchase a Blu-ray player. A further 23% said they are likely to buy a Blu-ray player, but not until at least 2009.

The survey found that consumers are still more than happy with standard definition DVDs, mostly because they entail not having to buy a new HDTV. The difference in quality between standard and high definition was also a wash with consumers: 50% said HD was "much better" than standard def, but 40% said it was only "somewhat better."

And don't expect a price cut on players anytime soon. ABI predicted that players will remain above $300 until 2009. That still makes the PS3 your best bet for a cheap Blu-Ray player. That is, if you even care about HD enough to justify the price point. Most people, apparently, couldn't care less.

Comments [220]

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eday_2010

Look at me! I`m gonna act like and idiot and not post anything relevant to the story, but will only say `first`! I don`t know what you dumb kids get out of doing that besides looking stupid. Blu-ray is still too expensive, but when I get a player, it will not be a BS3 and it will not be a Sony brand.

Sire

I have said this before countless times, Bluray is NOT catching on the way they had hoped. . . I also predicted that as soon as lots of games come out for the PS3, there goes all the Bluray movie sales down the toilet. [p] HDDVD dual disks were the much more logical option for transition because you could play them in both standard dvd machines and HDDVD machines.[p] People just don't have the money to pay this much for movies and Blockbuster's bluray section sucks. . Actually none of my favorite movies are on bluray yet.

WoWgamer

SOunds more like the watchstation3 then Playstation3... Well no play does work. It does play movies after all

theDreamcaster

i have been saying this since the day it came out. nobody cares nor is ready for bluray. the people who are interested are Sony fans only because the PS3 jacked up the price of their machine to shove bluray into the market. sony and the bluray were one video game generation too early and it won't matter for the future generations because they will all support a cheaper bluray.

SeventhSign

Blu Ray is still something that only a technophile would want. It is still too expensive for the average person, especially with DVD players going for 20 bucks. I think that it will still become the primary format for movies, but it won't happen until after 2009 when US TVs go digital. Once HDTV becomes more common and Blu Ray hits a 199 price point, the adoption rate will speed up quickly.

thegoodfella

um... DUH! either 450 dollars for a blu ray player OR 400 dollars for a blu ray player plus a game system... hmm let me think... ill take the ps3!

rahrah12

Sire Posted at: 08/04/08 at 6:48 AM PST I have said this before countless times, Bluray is NOT catching on the way they had hoped. . . I also predicted that as soon as lots of games come out for the PS3, there goes all the Bluray movie sales down the toilet. HDDVD dual disks were the much more logical option for transition because you could play them in both standard dvd machines and HDDVD machines. People just don't have the money to pay this much for movies and Blockbuster's bluray section sucks. . Actually none of my favorite movies are on bluray yet.
very smart of Sony to include and a very good business decision. MS dropped the ball on that one by not including HD DVD, regardless, BD is the next format along with digital downloads. Great business decision for Sony!

illusive_1

It was a smart decision on sony's part but to me honest I don't give a f*ck about blu ray at least not yet.

Kosmonova

Actually, the non-profit Entertainment Merchants Association issued a report that Blu-ray sales will exceed DVD sales by 2012.

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